Board Bios
Meet your Board, a group of dedicated neighbors and friends committed to and working towards making Ginter Park a place where everyone loves to live!
Executive Board
Melody Imburg, President
Having lived in Ginter Park for 40 years, Melody’s 100+ year old house is the oly home her three children have ever known. She and her husband, Brian, both retired in 2024, Melody as the Director of Admissions at Orchard House Middle School, and Brian as a Computer Scientist at KYNDRL. They spent the months of October and November traveling the US by Amtrak. She is settling into the routine of retirement, but is having a hard time remembering everyday is not Saturday! Along with yard work, some call it gardening, she spends lots of time with her 3 grandchildren, Lawson, Ollie, and Wren!
Having lived in Ginter Park for 40 years, Melody’s 100+ year old house is the oly home her three children have ever known. She and her husband, Brian, both retired in 2024, Melody as the Director of Admissions at Orchard House Middle School, and Brian as a Computer Scientist at KYNDRL. They spent the months of October and November traveling the US by Amtrak. She is settling into the routine of retirement, but is having a hard time remembering everyday is not Saturday! Along with yard work, some call it gardening, she spends lots of time with her 3 grandchildren, Lawson, Ollie, and Wren!
Rick Jones, Treasurer
Rick and his partner, Mervyn Han, moved from New York City to Ginter Park in 2014 to be closer to family, and they have been active in the community ever since. Professionally, Rick is a marketer, helping technology companies launch new products. Mervyn works for Comerica Bank in risk management.Outside of work both Rick and Mervyn enjoy exploring Virginia history, cooking, travel, and spending time in the great outdoors.
Rick and his partner, Mervyn Han, moved from New York City to Ginter Park in 2014 to be closer to family, and they have been active in the community ever since. Professionally, Rick is a marketer, helping technology companies launch new products. Mervyn works for Comerica Bank in risk management.Outside of work both Rick and Mervyn enjoy exploring Virginia history, cooking, travel, and spending time in the great outdoors.
Robyn Bridges, Secretary
Robyn has served as GPRA Secretary for the past three years. She has lived in Ginter Park for five years, and has been a Richmond resident for 24 years. Before moving to Richmond, she lived in North Carolina, Missouri, and Ohio. Favorite pastimes are gardening, cooking, reading, traveling, and taking classes at the YMCA. Robyn attends Epiphany Lutheran Church, where she also serves on the Endowment Board. Her husband Brian is a pilot for Southwest Airlines, and daughter Katie is a junior at JMU. Rounding out the household are cats Miles and MJ.
Robyn has served as GPRA Secretary for the past three years. She has lived in Ginter Park for five years, and has been a Richmond resident for 24 years. Before moving to Richmond, she lived in North Carolina, Missouri, and Ohio. Favorite pastimes are gardening, cooking, reading, traveling, and taking classes at the YMCA. Robyn attends Epiphany Lutheran Church, where she also serves on the Endowment Board. Her husband Brian is a pilot for Southwest Airlines, and daughter Katie is a junior at JMU. Rounding out the household are cats Miles and MJ.
Committee Chairs
Karen Bernhard, Membership
Karen grew up in Vermont, went to college in Chicago and moved to Richmond for graduate school at VCU. She has lived with her wife, Shawn Smith, on Moss Side Ave. since 1995. They also have two dogs, Backstrom and Dory, and several thousand bees (in hives in their yard). While she works from home for Citi Bank as the Chief Data Officer, Karen loves to be outdoors running and biking. |
Nancy Falcone, Ways and Means
After a career in sales, Nancy retired in 2014. But she has been active in GPRA social activities and will be involved in the Garden Soiree. She and husband Mark Vases moved to Ginter park in 2018, following time in Midlothian and Syracuse. Mark is VP of Procurement at Performance Food Group. lists her hobbies as “family, hiking, walking, succulents, cooking, creating in our workshop, and entertaining.” |
Prudence Justis,
Events/Social Committee Co-chair Returning to the board is Prudence Justis, who has served GPRA as president, district representative and social chair. She has lived in Ginter Park for 9 years. With a father in the Navy, Prudence lived in Rhode Island, Florida and Manassas, but she attended elementary school in Ginter Park at one point. Her household includes attorney Paul Curley and beloved dogs Moe and Daisy, cat Archie and chinchilla Hamish. A residential real estate agent, Prudence loves to spend time with family and friends, traveling and cooking. 
Stephen Weisensale, Planning and Zoning As chair of this committee for nearly eight years, Stephen has worked with the City Planning office on many issues, including bike lanes, infrastructure maintenance, and land use. In the past, he worked with adjacent civic associations on the Westwood tract development. Currently he is working with Northside and Fan associations on the City’s re-write of its zoning code, the proposed re-development of the Hermitage Adult Home, the upcoming Fall Line Trail, and the North/South Pulse BRT Expansion.
An architect and senior project manager with CPL Architects & Engineers (formerly Commonwealth Architects) of Richmond, Stephen cites his hobbies as gardening, BEER, and museums. His wife of 28 years, Sheila, was previously a GPRA secretary and is a software trainer and floral artist. They have been residents of Ginter Park since 1999. 
Matt Berical, Member-at-large
Matt Berical moved to Ginter Park in 2020 after 15 years in New York City. He’s a professional writer and editor, bread baker, Virginia State Fair Award-winning jam maker, and proud Northside resident. He lives with his wife Maggie and cat Flora on Edgewood Avenue. He's excited to be a part of the GPRA and help the community connect more. |
Candace Blydenburgh,
Events/Social Committee Co-chair Candace has resided in Ginter Park since the summer of 2019. She first moved to Northside in 2004 and lived in Battery Park for seven years. She came to the Richmond area in 1996 after graduating from UVA Law School. Currently, she practices law with McGuireWoods LLP. In addition to being a partner, she is a wife, mother, sister, aunt, daughter, bestie, friend, occasional foe and godmother of a ton of youngins. 
Ingrid Harding,
District Representative Committee Chair “Our move to Ginter Park in early 2023 was very special because we were able to purchase the home on Hawthorne where my grandmother was born and raised. My grandfather was also born just down the street”. Husband Peter and Ingrid both have extensive experience in the nonprofit field--Peter as medical services director and Ingrid as educator and special needs advocate. The Hardings have three adult children. In addition to staying home to care for their middle child who is disabled, Ingrid volunteers at Shalom Farms and served on Richmond’s Aging and Disabilities Advisory Board. Her hobbies include “everything outdoors!” The family has hosted National Night Out block parties and were one of the hosts for the 2024 Garden Soiree. Ingrid also creates graphics for GPRA’s events. 
Mary Ann Batsche, Public Safety Participating in the RPD Citizens Academy and a ride-along with an officer has prepared Mary Ann Batsche for her position as GPRA Public Safety Chair. The Batsches moved from Fredericksburg to Ginter Park eight years ago. But Mary Ann still works there as Director of Language Access Services for Mary Washington Healthcare, as she has for 19 years. Husband Stephen is the Executive Director of the Salvation Army of Central Virginia. The Batsches enjoy traveling, camping, hiking, mountain biking and attending music festivals.
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Norma Murdoch Kit, Member-at-large
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Anne Thorne, Newsletter Editor
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